Family farm deals with food-safety issuesLundberg Family Farms, which is based in Richvale, Calif., has been attempting to deal with the fallout from a study that found inorganic arsenic in rice and rice products. The farm's leaders considered letting the issue play out without getting involved but ultimately decided to post content on its website that addresses the issue. Business experts recommend the farm enlist independent toxicologists and offer safety advice to its customers. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(11/21)

Sales mistakes that could be costing you moneyMistakes made in your company's prospecting efforts could be costing you business, Sean McPheat of MTD Sales Training writes. Salespeople might be leaving money on the table if they don't keep accurate records, try to sell the product without progressing through the sales process or fail to ask for referrals, he notes. MTDSalesTraining.com
(11/21)

Business Analytics for Decision MakersLearn to gather meaningful insights and make confident, data-driven decisions. Northwestern's Business Analytics for Decision Makers certificate program teaches students how to make informed, strategic plans using organizational data.

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Management

How to stop fear from ruining your employees' productivityMany employees are afraid, whether it be of making a mistake or getting into an argument with a manager, according to a survey. "Employees who are afraid of something or someone in the organization will naturally close up to protect themselves, and can no longer perform at their full capacity," writes David Williams, CEO of Fishbowl. Experts recommend employers address this issue by emphasizing their core principles and focusing on communication. Inc. online/Start It Up blog (free registration)
(11/22)

What you should know about cash-flow financingCash-flow financing, which allows you to get a loan based on your company's expected income, can help you to cover expenses as your business grows, writes Jeremy Waller, an account executive with Fast A/R Funding. In addition to this type of financing, you can also improve your company's cash flow by cutting costs or making more sales, he writes. B2C Marketing Insider
(11/20)

Using accounting to build your businessBookkeeping might not seem like the most interesting topic, but effective accounting can help you to evaluate your marketing initiatives, spot important trends and offer top-notch service to your best customers, Steven Aldrich of Go Daddy writes. "A good accounting system will show you who your repeat customers are and how much they are spending," he notes. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model)
(11/23)

Scientists capture the scent of nothing muchScientists have found a way to blend scents together into a kind of olfactory "white noise" -- a generic, neutral odor that simply doesn't smell of anything much. The featureless smell could serve as a useful tool for scientists examining the way the brain processes olfactory information, researchers say. ScienceMag.org/Science Now blog
(11/19)

SmartQuote

If the employees don't feel like they can communicate effectively with management, a lot of problems and issues will never come to light."